Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Liadain"]

Soliael looked at her for a moment, his gaze shifting.

Her posture was becoming more defensive, more enclose. She was regretful. Oliver? Not a name that Soliael knew obviously, not one that he had ever heard a Jedi called either. Perhaps it had been someone else close to her, a family member or a relative of some sort. His torso shifted on the side of the bed, his cloak pulling at him slightly.

He frowned, then unclasped the chain that held it place. With a quick sweep of his hand Soliael tossed the heavy fur to the floor of the room.

Broad shoulders shifted so that half of him sat on the bed, and odd position for a grown man, yet Soliael somehow made it seem commanding, as if it was perfectly normal for a grown man to orchestrate himself in that fashion. Oddly, in shifting he had also moved himself closer to Kira, though whether it had been done consciously was difficult to tell.

“Did they do the same to him as they did to you?” His voice remained that soothing calm tone, a sound that could do no wrong.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]


He drew closer and she would watch him closely. At this distance her eyes would span across the angles of his face, the patrician features, the straight line of his lips, and the deep set orange eyes fringed by thick lashes that would strike the envy of any girl. His voice would flow like syrup, calm and almost hypnotic. Soothing, certainly, but in the depths of her mind, she knew there was something off about it.

It was a rather odd situation to be, then again, he had not struck her down outright. Everyone has their little problems and insecurities, and Kira was no different. Through it all, however, she could always draw upon this -- that it is our actions that defines us. What we choose. What we resist. What we are willing to die for.

Kira was willing to die for Oliver.

Now Oliver, do just as mommy taught you.


Did they do the same to Oliver? Slowly her head would shake from left to right in a silent negative, her lips drawn into a thin line.

He's quite good at this now.

We allowed him to practice on some of the other children from his orphanage.


"They did worse." she said simply, and in her mind she was there again. The listless expression of a broken mind. "He couldn't handle it.


He enjoyed the first few, though there was one girl...oh what was her name, I can hardly recall what will all the screaming.

Lilly.
She was such a pretty girl.

Her eyes would shimmer with unshed tears, such deep sorrow in her soul. She had failed him.

What younglin can?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

"I'm sorry." It was the only thing he could think to say.

In truth however, He couldn't begin to guess what she meant.

Did they skin him alive? Did they feed him to Vornskr? He had no idea. There was a certain amount of pity in his eyes however as Kira let out a whimper. Not for the boy, he likely didn't care about him at all, but for Kira. The woman had clearly been deeply hurt by the loss of the boy, whatever had caused it. His eyes dropped for a second, and he wondered what he should do next. His lips thinned slightly in thought, then suddenly he stood from the bed.

“Do you think you can stand?” He couldn't heal the past, but perhaps he could show her something that would amaze her, take her mind off the current situation, anything to make those tears not fall. He smiled slightly, trying to look as trustworthy as possible.

He offered her a hand.

Of course he couldn't know what was going through her head, he didn't dare reach out with the force towards her, he didn't dare try to use his Kiffar heritage to read her. Soliael desperately wanted Kira to trust him. He wanted to get to know her, he wanted to crack the shell around the curiosity, and he was determined to do so.

If she should not walk, he would carry her.

 

[Kira Talith]

She'd give a tight nod, lips thin in a half attempt at a smile to acknowledge his attempt at sympathy. Perhaps, in the back of her mind, she understood that he was attempting to offer a measure of comfort. It was odd, considering that by all intents and purposes, he'd only met her once before. In the battle of Metalorn none the less.

Then again, she could understand that need to offer comfort to another when confronted by waterworks. She did so with the younglings, anything to keep their mind off of darker thoughts.

Calm or not, her eyes would follow his form as he stood, hand extended out towards her. A slight frown would mar her face, her eyes blinking rapidly to clear her vision from the unshed tears.

"Why are you doing this?" she couldn't help but ask. This went beyond the 'Why am I here,' although to be frank, she was awfully tempted to take the hand.

Everybody at some point simply desire a measure of comfort when feeling as if your soul would wrench in two.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael smiled for a few seconds, leaving his hand up in the air so she could take it when she was ready. He supposed he had to do some explaining, otherwise this would get very creepy very fast. He didn't want her freaking out or getting scared of him, that would not do at all.

“I am nearly two and a half centuries old.” He began, his voice thrumming with a certain hint of knowledge. “I've seen things that many people would call impossible. I can do things that others would call insane. After so long a life not very many things interest me anymore, and even less things make me genuinely curious.”

With his foot he latched onto the cloak that he had earlier dropped onto the floor.

He swept it up into the air and caught it with his other hand, tucking it beneath him for a moment while still offering his other hand to help her out of the bed. “You make me curious.”

 

[Kira Talith]

The right corner of her mouth would quirk in a more familiar attempt at humor, but it was clear it was more of a front than true amusement at that.

"Two and a half centuries?" her brows would lift to hide under the fringe of her blonde bangs, "You'd make a killin if you ever sold that secret to looking good at that age."

There came the dart of the tip of her pink tongue, moistening her chapped lips. She was hesitant, nervous, and wary as her attention would dip to his extended hand and then back to his face. "Curious, eh?"

"I guess you don't see your run of the mill Jedi anymore, do you? I promise. We are pretty boring."

His body language would ring his words true. In that, no matter what words may be said, she could trust. He had brought her here, had her taken care of, her wounds tended. It was a struggle, none the less, to openly reach out and take his hand.

But she would try.

Carefully, slowly almost painstakingly so, she'd drop her arms from their hold around her legs. The slide of her knees came next, the bed shifting with her weight until finally, that small hand would slip into his.

"Lots of meditating. Maybe a donut if I can sneak it."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“I'm afraid the secret as always, is genetics.” He took her frail hand in a firm but gentle grip, almost lifting her out of the bed and righting her on her own two feet. She moved slowly, thought that was to be expected, and Soliael did not rush her. She likely wouldn't be very stable on her feet for some time and he didn't exactly want to push her beyond what she was capable of. As soon as she stood however he let go of her hand for a second, unfurling the cloak and placing it upon her shoulders so it covered her tiny body.

Soliael then grasped her hand again, firm, but gentle. Slowly he began to lead her towards the door that he had first walked in through. Besides them sat a pair of slippers, and he expectantly stopped her in front of them, clearly wanting her to put them on.

“I don't know if its the fact that you are a Jedi.” He mused for a moment. “I recently met your Grandmaster, and she was hardly half as interesting as you.”

Everyone loved complements.

Right?

 

[Kira Talith]

Well that is one way to make her feel incredibly tiny. It wasn't his height or his brawn, no. It was the way his cloak practically dwarfed her. Standing at 1.54 meters, Kira could very well be confused with a older youngling.

"Genetics?" she'd say, the fingers of her left hand holding the ends of the cloak tight at the front while the heat of his hand would linger upon her right.

"Well that's cheating," she'd say in a half joke, walking carefully as she could. She'd stare down at the slippers, before slowly slipping them on. The flash of her ankles from under the sleeping pants would reveal the slash of pale pink scars over her achilles tendons, where Oliver had severed them before. It took months of physical therapy to be able to walk again, but even then, there were times where she would find herself collapsing in pain where the tendons had not healed correctly. She wouldn't be a graceful dancer that's for sure.

Her hair would fall forward, tickling her eyes as she would straighten. A hot puff of air would blow them away, sending them flying before falling back down.

"Master Kiskla has her interesting points," she'd say glancing back up at him. "Everyone does." that shimmer in her eyes would slowly start to dry. Conversation and keeping her mind busy were working.

"Just depends if one sticks around to see them."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Perhaps she's more interesting outside of a Prison cell.” Soliael mused, then smiled down at her. “You must have quite a few then.”

As she finished putting on the slippers Soliael looked towards the door, then back at her. “Given that you got me interested after only a few seconds.”

His grin became wide, but before she could answer Soliael turned away, leading her slowly towards the double doors. A wave of his hand saw the first pair open slowly, heading them into the antechamber of the bedroom. Here Kira would see the ornateness of the roof, the wood carvings, the marble floor depicting a portrait of the Pantheon, and the massive set of inscribed Double doors that led to the outside.

Soliael stopped her a Foot in front of them, reaching out and grasping one handle. The doors could not be opened with the force, part of the alchemy that had been infused within them.

Slowly he pressed open the door, the second one following along with the motion to push aside the mounds of snow that were slowly forming. Calming specks of white fell down onto the mountain ranges that sat behind the doors, not a storm, but a slow inevitable fall that one would expect to see at the very peak of the mountains.

The view from behind the doors was all encompassing.

Standing at the highest point of the fortress and the fortress itself being located on the highest peak meant that one could see for miles. Dozens of spiraling mountain tops scratching the heavens, each flaked with a heavy layer of snow, deep valleys and mighty frozen rivers that cut through the snows in the summer. For miles and miles the mountain ranges went on, seemingly merging with the heavens.

 

[Kira Talith]

"A prison cell?" she'd ask in confusion, walking alongside him just as the double doors would open. What came next would distract her momentarily at the sight of such grandeur and luxury.

"...Well that's shiny..." she'd say in a low voice, her feet padding upon the polished floors as she'd follow along. A brisk gust of cold air would blow strands of blonde hair away from her face, and she'd tighten her hold upon the cloak around her shoulders. It was heavy with his scent, of musk with a hint of metal. Likely, from whatever armor he wore. Yet what thoughts would linger would fade as the crunch of snow from her footsteps would bring her out into the elements.

All of the decadence would not compare to the natural beauty before her very eyes. Slow falling snow would drift along, catching on her hair and on the heavy cloak with a dusting of ice crystals. Her left hand would release the edges of the cloak, letting it part so as it would slip palm out. A small smile would grace her lips, the slender digits lightly wiggling as the snow drifts would settle over the shell of her hand.

She'd let out a small breath, condensation steaming it into a small cloud.

"So beautiful." she'd say, her gaze drifting upwards to scan along the snow dusted landscape. She'd say that with genuine appreciation. The snow capped peaks, the cool brisk air, and the utter serenity of the environment had a soothing effect on the soul. Ever so slowly, her shoulders would start to relax, and the tension at the corners of her eyes smooth.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“You are.” Soliael said with a smile, letting a hint of sternness slip into his voice. “But please, look at whats in front of you.”

Har har.

The False God cast a glance to ensure that the cloak was tightly wrapped around her and the slippers were adequate to keep the cold out. Here at the very peak it was easy to freeze to death, even with moments of being outside. The cold air cut to the bone, and the harsh gusting winds pressed against the skin like a scythe. Strangely, he himself did not seem concerned with the cold, even though he was only wearing a thin layer.

His free hand came up and pointed. “Beyond those mountains lays the Exin Forests, a massive sprawling woodland that goes on for hundreds of miles filled with crystal clear lakes and fast running streams. Beyond that lay the plains, and at the center of them sits Exocra.”

The Capital city of Exocron, the home of Moross.

 

[Kira Talith]

Her eyes would flick to him as if taken aback for a moment. Hardy har har, there kiddo, her expression would say. Enter the light flick of snow flakes at his direction before she'd tuck her hand right back under the cloak. Tapas was a nifty little trick to keep one warm or cool regardless of the elements, but weak as she was having come out of an unconscious coma, straining herself wouldn't be the best idea all around.

"Exocra?" she'd take a couple of steps forward, slipping her hand from his grasp to walk towards the edge of the balcony. A strong gust of air would bite at her cheeks with ice and snow, clinging to her lashes as she'd survey the area he'd pointed out.

Exocra, her brow would furrow slightly in thought. Rosy of cheeks with the increasing cold, she'd turn to him, confusion bathing her face.

"Just where exactly are we?" Not everyone was so familiar with all the systems in the galaxy, much the less the territory from where Exocron lay. The Moross territories were held in secret, rarely visited and from what she could personally remember, have not officially had any diplomatic relations. This to her was an unknown. She was familiar with the Republic and Protectorate territories, but beyond that, she had no idea just what planet this may be.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael looked at her, not really surprised she didn't recognize the name. Exocron was not exactly Coruscant, neither were the Moross Territories the center of the galaxy. Even though his worlds held countless of billions of people, not many in the galaxy actually cared about them. Indeed the Republic had long forgotten them and even the Sith seemed uninterested in this vast section of space.

“Exocron. The far outer rim. The home of the Moross Crusade.” He said the words simply.

Had he map, it might have been easier to show her.

Not everyone was a galactic explorer, and not everyone was like Soliael who had traveled across the stars for nearly ten decades to explore every planet that he could stumble upon. He would understand if Kira didn't exactly know where Exocron was, though he would be quite surprised if she hadn't heard of the Moross Crusade, after all they had been here for some years now.

 

[Kira Talith]

"The Moross Crusade." her eyes would widen a bit. The name of that section of the area she was more familiar with. There were stories of course, but which were mere spacer tales and what was truth was up in the air. There weren't many that had personal interaction with the inhabitants of that quasi mysterious section of the galaxy, but tales of a pantheon of gods and of a more fanatical religious worldview certainly would travel along the grapevine.

Her frown would deepen, that natural curiosity that made her a keen observer as a Jedi Investigator shining through. She'd take a few more steps, snow crunching under her slippers until she'd reach the edge of the balcony, her attention driven to the beyond of which the eye could see.

Finally after a couple of seconds, she'd turn to him anew, her profile towards him as she'd ask, "Are you part of it?" what was the Moross Crusade at its essence? Was he not Sith? Is that what the Moross Crusade were?

Questions would plague her mind, questions that would tempt her curiosity all the while distracting her just the same.

Just who was the man standing before her?

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Yes.” Soliael simply said with a straight face.

Soliael had never lied about what he was to people he cared about, and he wouldn't lie to Kira right now. He was a Sith, and the Moross Crusade had been founded by three Sith, but oddly it was hardly what he would call a darkside orientated government. The people of Moross loved their gods, trade prospered, unemployment was nonexistent, and generally everyone was happy.

Of course, not everyone was in the Moross Crusade.

Those who faced the Crusaders Wrath were not often well pleased.

A grand example of this was the Yuuzhan Vong. The Horde that had once opposed the Moross Crusade had been sundered, its people destroyed and its planets burned to a crisp. The Moross Crusade had absolutely eradicated the Horde and its people, although oddly enough they had had the moral high ground there.

Still, it had happened to many worlds before.

You either joined, or you died.

“I am its leader.” Soliael said simply before pausing. “Well, one of them.”

 

[Kira Talith]

Well that was an interesting bit of information. Blinkity blink, blink, blink and a small double take.

"...I guess that explains the shinnies." she'd say in reference to the luxury that surrounded them, bringing the coat tighter around her shoulders. Her tone was conversational, didn't quite give away her thoughts; which were racing twelve parsecs a second. " And why you said getting new shoes wouldn't be a problem."

"Maybe Sparky isn't the best thing to call you then...." She'd start to nibble on her lower lip again, nervousness fluttering in the pit of her belly as she'd register this bit of news. His position as a leader certainly gave her some answers, but also only provoked even more questions.

"...One of them?" she'd ask aloud for further elaboration, turning her torso towards him, nose starting to turn pink from the cold.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He smiled slightly, no sign of tension in his face or body language.

“One of the Gods?” His smile grew into a smirk. “Yes.”

“Before you begin to rush to the conclusion about how evil I am and how manipulating billions of lives can't possibly be a good thing you should take a second to listen to me.” There was no condescension in his voice, no talking down to her, simply a tone that implied reason, logic and a need to be understood. “Yes. The people of Exocron and Moross believe me to be a God. Yes, they pay tribute in money, labor, and prayer, but do I abuse this? Do I squander their wealth? Do I throw away their lives? Do I ignore their pleas for aid and assistance?”

He let a pause hang in the air. “No.”

“The Moross Crusade is perhaps the safest place in the galaxy. Men have work, women have families, children have homes.” He was making generalized statements, of course it could very well be that men had families and women had work, he was just making a point. “They do not suffer and they do not want. The people of Moross are more than content. They have something to believe in, something tangible, something real, something that gives them a reason to push themselves. Within the Moross Crusade people do not die needless deaths. Men do not kill other men, women do not get assaulted, and children do not starve.”

Soliaels words held conviction, true belief.

He may have created the Crusade to further his own ends, he may have founded the religion to meet his own goals, but it had grown into something far larger than that. It had become a place of true utopia. Within Crusade space safety was paramount, and those who lived on Exocron and beyond felt the peace of the Gods, and reveled in it.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira would quietly listen, her pale blue gaze unwavering as he would explain his position, his reasons, and the finer qualities of the idealistic Utopian society that was seemingly Moross Crusade.

She would remain quiet for a few more moments, as if registering it all. Mulling over it. Finally, she spoke. " But what if you don't believe?" she'd ask simply, quietly, searching his face. Snow would continue to fall slowly, catching on the cloak over her shoulders, the crown of her head. She'd slip her hand out again, palm up as if to catch the falling powder.

It was a simple question, one normally wouldn't think nothing of it, but it was important just the same.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

His smile did not go away, but it did not have the same look of a confident smirk it had before.

The question was a valid one, and perhaps one of the most stinging questions she could have asked. At the start of the Crusade, there had been few unbelievers, and they had been quickly rooted out and gotten rid of. Now there were less and less, even on worlds that were to be conquered. People truly believed in the Crusade, and those that did not...

“Then you leave, or you do not survive.” His smile disappeared.

For a second he thought.

This conversation wasn't about justifying himself, or even the Crusade.

“In order to maintain peace, in order to keep what we have. Belief is necessary.” His eyes shifted to her again. “Without that belief. The System falls apart. Men begin to fight with each other, women begin to die, and children start to suffer. Its not ideal perhaps, but the Crusade see's less war, less suffering, less poverty than the Republic or any other nation.”

That was actually a fact funnily enough. Granted the Republic didn't exert absolute authority, but it was still true.

 

[Kira Talith]

Her fingers would curl in round the snow flakes that had fallen upon the shell of her palm. She would remain quiet for a moment, caught between Soliael's face and the icy cold sensation of her hand. She needed that, the stark difference in temperature to clear her head. The odd sense of fuzziness was starting to wane, and in its place, a measure of contemplation.

The crunch of snow would tickle the ears as she would start to take a few steps back towards him, her fingertips melting the ice crystals with a slow rub of their pads.

"Belief is necessary..." she'd repeat quietly, contemplatively. Another step closer. " Perhaps. " the tiny Jedi Master was but a mere meter away from him now.

"But is it freely given?"